Edsel Ford 1934 Model 40 Speedster

[Bernard Kron]

Is this TRaKable? Custom Speedster based on the 1934 Model 40 chassis expressly for Edsel Ford who, working with Bob Gregorie, designed it. The R&D Unique transkit shown below has been a grail mine ever since I started up car modeling again in 2008.It's virtually unobtanium but I was able to score one on eBay the other week - to my surprise I was the only bidder.  I just started working on it the other day and wondered if I should show it here, or just on DPMCC. It was freshly restored in 2012 to its original steel grey metallic color and I was lucky enough to see it at the LeMay museum in Tacoma, Washington when they first started showing it. The transkit  is of the 1938 remodel of the front end that was done to solve a chronic overheating problem. It has had various flathead V8s in it starting with a a stock Model 40 mill originally and ending up with a '49 Merc with Halibrand heads and twin carbs. Currently it still has the Merc but it Ford Denver heads and the twin carbs. Here are some pics. It's definitely a proto-hot rod, but really it's a rich man's custom car but with very significant TRaK connections since Edsel Ford and E.T. "Bob" Gregorie were largely responsible for the look of every FoMoCo body in the hot rod iconography from the '27 Model T facelift through the '49 Mercury and Gregorie's early work on the '50 Ford. Edsel Ford died in 1943 and Gregorie left Ford after the war in 1946 (he was only 38).

What do you guys think?
B.

The R&D Unique Transkit:

Original 1934 Version

Final restoration completed in 2012 (1938 makeover to solve overheating problem

Edsel bequeathed the speedster to his wife who sold it in 1948. Here it is then in Los Angeles during that period.

The car changed hands several times and was first restored in 2005. During the L.A. period it had been painted red when it was loaned out for movie work. This is the 2005 version.

Now owned by the Edsel Ford estate

[chepp]

Yes -- to me, anyway! It's wonderful that you were able to obtain that kit.

[Mr. Metallic]

I believe it was in The Rodder's Journal. If it's good enough for them, it's good enough for me.

That long hood screams for a Lincoln V-12, Bernard. But I have a feeling your build will skew closer to replica, which is also cool. Especially based on the rarity of the kit

While researching I ran across the first version, which is also very cool, obviously closer to a 32 Ford. I've has a similar styled build in my mind for years, but now that I've seen this I'm afraid anything I build will be compared to this.



edsel speedster

[cturner]

Let's make it TRAKABLE so I can watch you do yours and get motivated to do mine. I started (cleaning and sanding) on it years ago...after finding it at NNL East almost hidden between two older kits of no interest. Like Bernard...it was a grail of mine and I was a happy camper! I will be VERY interested in your choice of colors...as that "metallic" version is gorgeous (more than the red which was all I had seen for ages)

[skip]

I would say, yes!

It is a "Factory Built Custom"! It is a historical car, well known among Ford restoration and purist circles. It survives as a coach-build at a time when the coach builders were beginning to be in less demand as the economic factors which led to the rise of the Coach Built cars was in recovery due to the war. In the real hay-days of the twenties and thirties when nearly every affluent person, movie star, etc. had to have a coach-built car. Then there is the aspect of "Factory Hot Rod" before there were such things. (i.e. muscle cars.) From everything I have read of Edsel's Speedster it was exactly that, a factory built Hot Rod with some of the best mechanical parts FoMoCo had to offer in an absolutely stunning package!

It should be included because it is a real testament to the Coach Builder's Art that gave birth to what are widely recognized as the Custom Cars of the thirties, forties and fifties. The coach builder's hand shows in many of the well-built early coach-built customs by Westergard and others of the era. It would be a shame not to allow this gem on TRAK, I'll follow it wherever B. takes it!

[Deleted]

To me it's very Trakable, & Skip laid out why perfectly.

[lo51merc]

I agree with the above comments. Let's see this puppy being built. (just NOT in the red version!)
Gary

[Deleted]

Nov 12, 2021 11:47:08 GMT -5 lo51merc said:

I agree with the above comments. Let's see this puppy being built. (just NOT in the red version!)
Gary

Oddly enough, I slightly prefer the red over the silver/grey. But, cooling issues aside, I also prefer the look of it originally to the final one. I can see the original design in a deeper, slightly darker red, (but not a maroon), & I think that would look very sharp.

[sharp]

I agree with the rest of the guys. I would love to see this one built.

[skip]

Nov 12, 2021 7:12:45 GMT -5 Mr. Metallic said:

I believe it was in The Rodder's Journal. If it's good enough for them, it's good enough for me.

That long hood screams for a Lincoln V-12, Bernard. But I have a feeling your build will skew closer to replica, which is also cool. Especially based on the rarity of the kit

While researching I ran across the first version, which is also very cool, obviously closer to a 32 Ford. I've has a similar styled build in my mind for years, but now that I've seen this I'm afraid anything I build will be compared to this.



edsel speedster

I had forgot bout this version of Edsel’s Speedster, I prefer it’s lines and front end only slightly better than the ‘34 version.  It’s rather unfortunate that either of these Speedsters never really got past the “Prototype” stage with development of a similar car which could have been released for public consumption.  Ford really missed the boat on that one, they could have had a factory built “Coach Build” for the high end market at a lower cost, something Henry Ford I, might have approved of.  Considering high end Deusenbergs, Cords, even Cadillacs were still being sold sans bodies to be taken to the coach builder of your choice to have the body of your design requirements fabricated.  The depression era economy sure didn’t affect those sales. Customers who had the capital to have a coach built car were also looking for the value the factory could have delivered.

[Bernard Kron]

The Ayes have it! Thanks to you all for the comments. I've started prepping for the build up. I've decided not to risk a full detail build. Art Laski did a very fine version as a commision build in 2016 (see: www.modelcarsmag.com/forums/topic/111038-edsel-ford-model-40-speedster/ ) that featured working lighting (I assume at the request of the model's ultimate owner). At the end of the day it was a curbside because he used the underhood area for the batteries. Because he had to cut open the hood for access to the batteries the usual problem with thick panel lines on resin bodies emerged and I just don't think I want to risk that. The transkit chassis is incorrect since the rear of the frame on the 1:1 was flipped to make the frame rails underslung beneath the rear axle and since this kit is more or less unobtanium I'll just stick with the kit chassis and try to do my very best with a curbside approach. It already presents a big enough challenge in terms a fit and finish!

The underslung rear end:

I've done some paint tests and I'm going with TS-42 Light Gun Metal lacquer over black primer as the main color. I've also ordered some 3D printed G-scale rivet decals from Archer Fine Transfer for the rivet detail with the frame cover is riveted to the main body panels. And finally I've modified some Revell '40 Ford Standard white walls to fit the wheels supplied with the Transkit. When the rivet decals get here I'll start a thread On The Daggumb Bench for this project, alongside the Bonnevillee streamliner I just started.

[Duane]

build it B. It fits perfectly !

[skip]

That second, first early version almost makes you want to order a Gerald Wingrove book and start pounding it out of brass sheet!